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Oh Canada! Visit the great cities of Canada in November, when it’s too early for skiing and too late for fall foliage. Stick to Quebec City, Montreal, in Quebec province, Ottawa and Toronto in Ontario, or Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia, Western Canada. Be prepared for rain, but the good news is that daytime temperatures aren’t as cold as they will become in mid-winter. November is the window before holiday prices kick in, so enjoy Canada on sale during the off-season.

Chill Out in Quebec City

Visiting Quebec City is like visiting France without the jet lag. Quebec City has the strongest French influence of any North American city. Old Quebec is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, the continent’s only walled city north of Mexico. Take advantage of off-season rates to stay inside the Old Town walls at the luxury Fairmont Chateau Frontenac, recently restored and modernized for its 125th birthday. The imposing fortress-like structure dominates the skyline, providing the best views of the St. Lawrence River. To overlook the city at another site, walk less than 10 minutes’ to the scenic 19th-century funicular cableway that rises 195 feet between the upper and lower sections of town. Do some holiday shopping at wooden kiosks at the German Christmas Market in front of city hall on Thursdays through Sundays. Entry is free, chefs’ demonstrations are presented, marionette shows and storytelling are staged for the kids, carols are sung, and Father Christmas is on hand.

Much to Do in Montreal

Stick with the French theme in Montreal. The city is bigger, closer (less than 100 miles from Burlington, Vermont) and a few degrees warmer than its French-accented neighboring city to the north. Note that much of Montreal’s action-packed venues are underground, conveniently connected by an extensive transportation system. Take the Montreal Metro, or the Métro de Montréal, to Place-d’Armes to explore the charms of Old Montreal, warming up with a cafe au lait or a bowl of French onion soup. Hop back on the subway to visit the Jean-Talon Marche (free entry and open daily year-round), one of North America’s oldest produce markets, which also provides a food tour of Little Italy. It’s one more short subway ride to Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in the Golden Square Mile near the foot of Mont Royal’s park, a sightseeing must in good weather. At Montreal Botanical Garden, one of the world’s best, visitors stay warm and dry admiring the living collection in 10 themed greenhouses. It gets festive in late November when Montreal’s holiday season is ushered in by a Santa Claus Parade through the heart of downtown.

Ottawa in Autumn

Switch from French to British in Ottawa, the nation’s capital. The center of attention for tourists is Parliament Hill, where, every morning at 10 a.m., the Changing of the Guard is a large-scale marching production featuring regiments of red-uniformed, bearskin-hatted soldiers and pipers. There’s more pomp and circumstance for National Remembrance Day on November 11 when spectators in the tens of thousands attend a veterans parade capped off by a rousing RCAF fly-by, a two-minute silence in honor of Canada’s 117,000 fallen soldiers. Museum treasures are always on view at the National Gallery of Canada, and in November, professional sports are in action at the Canadian Tire Centre where the NHL Ottawa Senators play. There’s more ice skating for everyone beginning in mid-November at The Sens Rink of Dreams where admission is free, traditional deep-fried beavertail pastries with hot chocolate are ready, and the illuminations come on at sundown.

Travel to Toronto in November

In cosmopolitan Toronto, be the first to see a Broadway show before it becomes one. Canada’s largest city is where future hit musicals try out. At CN Tower, the two-hour queue disappears in November, so ride the glass elevator up on a clear day. Daring visitors may opt for the outdoor EdgeWalk, while other spectators are satisfied with a view through the windows. You don’t need an observation deck to see that Toronto is a collection of diverse neighborhoods: Greektown, Chinatown, Little Italy and Little Portugal. Make it a point to eat in all of them, or take a small group Toronto craft beer tour through the historic Distillery District, which dates from 1832. Staged in mid-November, Toronto’s giant Santa Claus Parade, the world’s oldest, has been a well-loved spectacle since 1913.

Victoria and Vancouver in Late Fall

Even in November, whale-watching and wildlife tour boats depart every day from Victoria to view residential and migrating humpbacks, grey whales, orcas and other marine animals residing in these coastal waters. After October 31, the tour can’t guarantee a whale sighting, but the earlier in the month, the better. Don’t miss Butchart Gardens, so lovely in all seasons that they’re open every day of the year. In Vancouver, the weather can still be fairly mild, but outdoor activities are a bit iffy. Watch the NHL Canucks play when it rains or take on the ziplining experience at Grouse Mountain when it doesn’t. Another treetop adventure awaits at Vancouver’s Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, one of British Columbia’s most popular attractions, delivering thrills since 1889. Walk around Coal Harbour to see the famous totem poles at Stanley Park and enjoy some oysters at a restaurant along the waterfront on the way back.

About the Author

A travel and lifestyle writer based in San Francisco, Laurie Jo Miller Farr is a contributor to CBS Travel, Love to Know, SF Eater and additional media sites and magazines. As a London-based tourism industry professional, she covered the 2012 Olympics, which appeared on "Best of Britain." Farr received the 2013 Yahoo Contributor of the Year Award.

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